Mary Worth 217

You know what would be AWESOME? If Jeff and Mary Worth took a mini-vacation to the Amalfi Hotel in Chicago like Mrs. Wanders and I did last weekend. Wouldn't that just creep Jeff out? "Uh, Mary, why'd you pick this hotel?" And she answers, "It was recommended on Mary Worth and Me." That would be awesome! (Separate rooms, of course, for Mary and Jeff.)

Mary Worth 216

It isn't serious, Mary Worth? Then why does it look like he's punched you in the lip?

"Of course I didn't misunderstand him, Toby! How dare you insinuate that the fault could somehow lie with me! I think it's time for you to leave. Clearly, we both need a little breathing room."

Mary Worth 215

Oh, come on, kids. Can't you see you're meant for each other? Please tell me that Ron Amalfi is going to teach Mary Worth a lesson about appreciating the ones you love while you have them, and Mary, remembering how Jeff nearly died in Vietnam, is going to swallow her pride and "apologize." Oh, that'll be the day.

This is an awesome break up story. It seems like only yesterday when we had to stomach this image:

Mary Worth 214

Wow. Mary Worth is definitely making herself available for Ron Amalfi. Her schedule is cleared!

Let this be a lesson to those who dare to dislike anything Mary might do or say. Even her most intimate friendships are instantly severed. Or, rather, excommunicated from Our Lady of Perpetual Interference. Sister Mary Mary does not approve of disapproval, especially from her Charterstone parishioners.

"Leave me here, Jeff, with my throw pillows and my paintings of lettuce. Who cares that we've been together 137 years. You suggest I take one day off from meddling? Puh-leez! I need to breathe."

Birdie's Aldo Cartoon

Birdie left a comment this morning regarding the Aldo picture I posted. It's something she put together when it first ran in Mary Worth, but the URL in her comment was a bit hard to see, so I'm posting the image here. Very nice job, Birdie.

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Hmmm... this is starting to remind me of something... Oh, yes, that's right:

Mary Worth rejected Aldo Kelrast because of her feelings for Jeff, but now that Jeff's disapproval of Mary's meddling has come out in the open, she's giving him the same treatment. Watch out, Jeff, or Mary might call on Dr. Chin Beard to instigate an intervention that will ultimately result in your drunken, fiery death.

Personally, I think Mary understated it when she called her need to help others a "compulsion." It's a flat-out addiction. When you place your drug above your relationship, that's a sure sign you have issues.

Mary, the first step is admitting you have a problem. Like that'll ever happen.

(Speaking of Dr. Chin Beard, it's been over a year since we've seen Professor Ian Cameron, if you don't count a brief background cameo at the last pool party. Bring back Chin Beard! Bring back Chin Beard!)

And now for something completely different: I love reader feedback, and since only a few of our many readers actually leave comments, I thought I'd give you a simple way to respond to each post. I've set up a star rating system using Outbrain. You can rate posts using the stars below. Have a favorite post from the past? You can go back and rate any past post as well. Just don't let the new stars replace any comment you'd like to leave! Thanks for being a loyal reader of Mary Worth and Me.

Mary Worth 212

Uh-oh. Mary Worth played the "Saved Your Life" card. I just have to say that this is the lamest argument I've ever heard. People who communicate like this really don't deserve a relationship, nor are they truly capable of maintaining one. What happened to the love? (And if you haven't seen the second panel yet, don't miss it!) Is that a slap fight?

Mary Worth 211

When the average price of a gallon of gas is $3.94 in the greater Santa Royale metro region, with many stations exceeding $4.00, not to mention the mysterious 9/10 of a cent extra that no one is talking about, this kind of stress is to be expected. Even Dr. Jeff, who is used to his doctor's salary (remember?), and Mary Worth, who has lived comfortably ever since widowing into wealth, are not immune. But get used to it folks; we're expected to hit $5.00 before the end of summer. Fortunately, Mary's been through hard times, so she knows how to run her life.

Why do I think Mary's about to get herself into a little bit of hot water with Ron Amalfi? Jeff's warnings feel like some kind of ominous foreshadowing. Could it be that Mary Worth is actually about to pay the price for her compulsive meddling? Hee-hee, that would be AWESOME!

I want to take just a moment to say, "Rest in Peace, Sidney Pollack," who died yesterday from cancer at the age of 73. Pollack was the director of my favorite movie, "The Electric Horseman." I know, I know... but I still enjoy it. He was a great director/producer/actor and I'll miss his movies. It's been over ten years, but I remember writing a letter to him about the VHS release of Electric Horseman (they'd omitted the opening Willy Nelson theme song and replaced it with a cheesy synthesized piece). He actually replied via email to say that he'd never seen the VHS because he couldn't stand the "pan and scan" cropping of the film's glorious (my word) wide-screen cinematography, and he was surprised to learn the song was omitted. I was really impressed that he'd take time to send me a personal email like that, and laughed that his presumably felicitous email address began "OverBudget@..." I knew he had to be happy with "The Electric Horseman's" DVD release a few years later, which restored the wide screen and included the omitted song. Now that I can watch the film on my plasma television, all seems right with the world, except that Mr. Pollack has gone on and won't be making any more wonderful films.

Mary Worth 210

While I completely agree with Jeff in substance, I've got to deduct 10 points for style. This is "persuasion?" "Do us both a favor and do exactly what I want." Huh? This must be where Drew got the idiot gene. While Jeff's rhetorical skills have much to be desired, he certainly has revealed his cards to Mary Worth. After all these years of feigning admiration for Mary's meddling, Jeff is probably going to find himself at a Bum Boat table for one. How convenient it will be when Mary, after spending the night in a tearful, resentful rage, runs to the arms of Ron Amalfi and goes on a Twista tirade about Jeff's lack of compassion and general narcissism.

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Just how much support does Ron Amalfi need? He's leaned on Mary Worth since his mother died? In what way? Jeff and Mary had planned to go sailing all day and have dinner at the Bum Boat. But what have Ron and Mary actually planned? Eleven hours of sympathetic conversation? ("Your mother was a wonderful woman, Ron." "Thanks Mary. Say it again.") Or is Mary mowing his lawn and then painting his den? Jeff, just be glad they aren't horseback riding.